Eternal Refuge

How did I do that? I am a week behind, so will catch up quickly ....

10. If you could have any hair colour what would it be?
I have always wanted to be brave enough to have a really lurid hair colour, but have never been brave enough.

11. Do you like nature documentaries?
No!  I know animals eat to survive, but I don't want to see it.  And I am phobic about insects ... so another reason.  However do like watching the protection programmes, etc.

12. What is your aesthetic?
Oooops, I had to look up the word - but am still no neaer.  I think the answer is that I like real life, but an assortment - I do not enjoy impressionism, or cubism, or whatever.  If I have the wrong answer, sorry.

13. When did you last pet a dog?
Just called Jiffy over!!

14. Whose friend’s parents do you like the most?
I have always got on with most of my friends parents ... although now they are gradually loosing them.  But have never had a favourite.

15. Have you ever been on a road trip?
When we were teens, as a family, we toured a lot of Europe.  I love travelling, and seeing new places (or some place again).

16. Tell me about someone you know called emma
I don't know an Emma

17. Are you reading a book in english class, what is it?
Too old for school (I left in 1979!), and stopped English in '77. The books I read for my O levels were Emma, by Jane Austin & 1984 by George Orwell. I also had to study early 20th century poetry, as well as "A Man For All Seasons" and "Henry IV, part I"

So much for starting a meme to help me to keep posting!! I am a couple of days out, so thought I would do three, to catch up.

3. Do you still talk to the first person you kissed?
N/A ... unless Jiffy (& Perry, & Misty) counts

4. Do you get on with your grandpa?
My Dad's father died when I was 14, but I didn't know him as he had a stroke that affected his brain when I was 4. He had been in the army for a few years, and apparantly as the years went along he loved working in Sunday School teaching, etc ... but sadly I was his oldest grandchild so he never had a chance to get to know the 3 of us.

My Mum's Father died when I was 17 ... he was a real gentleman. I loved him, and although he was Victorian, we got on very well. He was a very genuine person, and I wish I had been able to get to know him that bit better; although I do remember some of the chats I had with him, especially about WWI. He actually died on a Christmas Day, so that means we never forget the date!

5. What was your favourite cartoon as a kid?
Many of the shows I loved were not true cartoons ... yes, I am old enough to remember The Woodentops -


But my favourite cartoon is Whacky Races (here is the intro for those who don't know it) -

Just to show we did have snow - even if it only lasted a couple of days-


I have spent some time this afternoon trying to both talk myself into a new camera, and then to talk myself out of it ... I will let you know which side wins!!

Now to try and keep posting I have snagged a 100 meme from kazzy_cee ....( So, here is the list )

100 Meme, question 1 - Do you have a favourite sweater?
I have a couple I like. One of which is a cheapo one I bought last November, but wear it a lot as it's beige and orange, it goes with most things. I also have a maroon coloured one, that was a favourite of mum's, and I liked her in it ... and now love wearing it myself!!


And now back to watching my DVD - Marx Brothers, Duck Soup

Wow it seems a long time since I posted on this list of memes ... so will try to get on and do some.

This set of 10 is going to be some favourite musicals.  I have already listed a couple under other sections, but will carry on here, with my first one being one of only 2 films that I saw at the cinema with Mum & Dad (the other being Gone With The Wind).

This is the "classic"  Sound of Music

As we all know, it's based on a true story ... but for any who have forgotten the plot ... In 1930's Austria, a young woman named Maria is failing miserably in her attempts to become a nun. When the Navy captain Georg Von Trapp writes to the convent asking for a governess that can handle his seven mischievous children, Maria is given the job. The Captain's wife is dead, and he is often away, and runs the household as strictly as he does the ships he sails on. The children are unhappy and resentful of the governesses that their father keeps hiring, and have managed to run each of them off one by one. When Maria arrives, she is initially met with the same hostility, but her kindness, understanding, and sense of fun soon draws them to her and brings some much-needed joy into all their lives -- including the Captain's. Eventually he and Maria find themselves falling in love, even though Georg is already engaged to a Baroness and Maria is still a postulant. The romance makes them both start questioning the decisions they have made. Their personal conflicts soon become overshadowed, however, by world events. Austria is about to come under the control of Germany, and the Captain may soon find himself drafted into the German navy and forced to fight against his own country.



And, the nice thing is that they have stayed friends with each other -

This set of films has contained those from Danny Kaye and Will Hay ... to finish off the set of 10 I am going to go to a film in the 60's ... the first of a set of films, still being made!  I have already mentioned one other in the set, but this one is just so mad it's brilliant - Have you guessed?

Yes - its Batman Maybe not quite as gothic as the more recent films - but a great film.

The archvillains of The United Underworld - The Catwoman, The Joker, The Riddler and The Penguin - combine forces to dispose of Batman and Robin as they launch their fantastic plot to control the entire world. From his submarine, Penguin and his cohorts hijack a yacht containing a superdehydrator, which can extract all moisture from humans and reduce them to particles of dust. The evildoers turn the 9 Security Council members in the United World Building into 9 vials of multicolored crystals! Batman and Robin track the villains in their Batboat and use Batcharge missles to force the sub to surface.



One of the best scenes ever - (including a scene from another Batman film as well ... the one you need to sse is the first half!)



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Another film of Will Hay that I do love is The Goose Steps Out ... although this is definately not "pc". Released in 1942, it is a film meant to cheer the English at the low-point of the war ...

A bumbling teacher (Will Hay) conveniently turns out to be the double of a German general. In the true spirit of wartime propoganda high jinks, he is flown into Germany to impersonate the general and cause chaos and hilarity in a Hitler Youth college (populated by the likes of Peter Ustinov, Charles Hawtrey and Barry Morse)

This is one of the scenes, where Will Hay is trying to steal a key from the General ... to listen to his strategy you have to know that most of the areas are County or River names ... eg ... Notts (Nottinghamshire), Lincs (Lincolnshire), Lancs (Lancashire), Kent, Bucks (Buckinghamshire), Beds (Bedfordshire) and Forth, Severn, Trent (rivers) ... and The Wash (an area on the East Anglia coast), Tyneside & Tees (Teeside) ... areas in the North of England. Not forgetting The Scots/Scotch ... a regular play on words over here of the drink & the country.




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I am meant to be cleaning and decorating this afternoon but have sneaked off to add another film to my Danny Kaye set ... Merry Andrew is one of those films that has lots of fun, but even more weirdness for the English watching it ... Danny Kaye plays an English teacher in a boys school, who is also an amateur archeologist.

The portayal of the English "stiff upper lip" has to be seen to be believed!  That and falling in love with a circus acrobat makes the film a typical bit of nonsense, that I enjoy!



Typically England!!!




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What Danny Kaye collection would be complete without The Court Jester. For those who don't know this great historical romp, the main story s -

The throne of rightful king of England, the small babe with the purple pimpernel birthmark, has been usurped by the evil King Roderick. Only the Black Fox can restore the true king to the throne--and all he needs is the king's key to a secret tunnel. And while he's trying to steal it, someone has to change the king's diapers. The task falls to Hawkins, the gentlest member of the Fox's band. The Fox's lieutenant, Maid Jean, guards Hawkins and the babe while they travel, but when they meet the King's new jester on the road, they decide to initiate a daring plan for Hawkins to replace him, become an intimate at the court, and steal the key. So, humble Hawkins becomes Giacomo: the king of jesters and jester to the king. But things begin to get zany when the King's daughter falls for Giacomo, the King falls for Jean, people randomly sing what are supposed to be recognition codes, and a witch with very effective spells (and poison pellets) begins to interfere.

Most of you have seen the Poison Pellet links ... but another great scene is where the witch be-spells Giacomo/Hawkins to think he is a great fencer ... but at a click of the finger the spell is lost -



Poor Basil Rathbone!

My next Danny Kaye film is A Song is Born, which also stars Virginia Mayo (dad is a fan of hers!!).

For those who don't know this film ... Shy introverted Professor Hobart Frisbee (Danny Kaye) runs a musical research institute. Along with his a team of music professors, among them Professor Magenbruch (Benny Goodman), they are writing a musical encyclopedia. Two window washers Buck and Bubbles make them aware that there is several new musical styles - jazz, swing, boogie woogie and bebop. Arriving on the scene is Honey Swanson (Virginia Mayo), a night club singer and the girlfriend of gangster Tony Crow (Steve Cochran). She needs to hide out for awhile so that she can't be made to testify against him. When the housekeeper decides that Honey is too disruptive and must leave, Honey decides to get Frisbee to fall for her. But it backfires when he does and proposes to her. Her gangster boyfriend decides to use this as a cover, and claiming to be her father he tells the professor to drive to New Jersey with her to have the wedding right away. His true plan is that Frisbee will be Honey's transportation to get her to him where he himself will marry her - making it impossible for Honey to testify against him. But before she gets to New Jersey she falls in love with Frisbee and can no longer marry her boyfriend

This clip is part of the film - Danny Kaye being a music professor is learning about jazz from some famous people ... I love this dig that Benny Goodman allows about himself. He was an amazing classical clarinetist ... but also a brilliant jazz vertoso.






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Here is the catch-up for the last 10 as it has been a bit spread out ... Sorry.


Film 31 - Pride & Prejudice
Film 32 - Pirates of the Caribean
Film 33 & 34 - Shop Around The Corner & You've Got Mail
Film 35 - Sister Act
Film 36 - Sliding Doors
Film 37 - Overboard
Film 38 - Batman Forever
Film 39 - True Lies
Film 40 - Thunderbirds Are Go


Now, I must get on and find a set of films ... enjoy!


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